1. What policies govern your uses of ICT in your school setting?<\/p>\n
*Our school has an “acceptable use” computer policy that all students and parents are expected to read and sign at the beginning of the school year. \u00a0It states that students will use the computers to access appropriate content for school purposes. \u00a0It also states that any form of cyber bullying will not be tolerated and any misuse of school computers will result in a loss of computer privileges.<\/p>\n
2. What digital technological resources do you have available for teaching and learning in your school setting?<\/p>\n
*We have a decrepit computer lab with approximately 30 computers. \u00a0As of 2014, the Vancouver School Board will no longer maintain or replace these computers, so the computer lab will be a thing of the past. \u00a0We have 10 new iPads which can be signed out by the classroom teacher but of course, they are in high demand in a school with over 450 students. \u00a0My classroom has 1 computer for student use but again, after 2014, these will be phased out. \u00a0I bring my laptop to class every day to connect to my LCD projector and I use it constantly while teaching. \u00a0I also let my students use it whenever they need to.<\/p>\n
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3. Please provide an example of an exemplary use of digital technologies for teaching and learning that you have observed or experienced personally.<\/p>\n
*I began using Edmodo with my class this year and have found it to be an amazing teaching tool. \u00a0As a teacher, I can set up a safe and closed environment for students to chat, post, ask questions, discuss issues… \u00a0I am able to create and assign quizzes (which Edmodo marks!), conduct opinion polls, provide links to interesting websites, and stay in touch with my students. \u00a0Through Edmodo, I am also able to add interesting pictures, video clips, or websites to my private library to access in the future. \u00a0I have the option of sharing my library with colleagues or keeping it private. \u00a0Edmodo also has a fantastic “community” feature where you can browse various subjects and read educators’ questions and posts about what they are doing in their classes. \u00a0I often spend time just browsing through the Language Arts, Science, or Math community discussion boards and I always come away with an interesting website or activity to use in future. \u00a0In my class, Edmodo was wildly popular because it was a safe and fun way for my students to communicate with each other and a convenient way for them to communicate with me. \u00a0Students learned to take responsibility for their learning and ask for clarification on assignments.<\/p>\n
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4. Please provide an example of a problematic use of digital technologies for teaching and learning that you have observed or experienced personally.<\/p>\n
*Every year, our school struggles with some form of cyber-bullying or inappropriate use of social media. \u00a0In previous years, there have been tons of issues with Facebook – students creating false accounts for other students, posting inappropriately, bullying etc. \u00a0Most recently, numerous grade 6 and 7 students at our school were using Instagram to post pictures of their arms and legs after “cutting” themselves. \u00a0The idea of self-mutiliation has spread like wildfire throughout our older students and several students who weren’t actually cutting themselves were posting pictures they had found online and pretending the pictures were theirs. \u00a0I have also heard a lot of concern about SnapChat – instant messages that disappear after a short amount of time. \u00a0Students feel a sense of anonymity or they feel they won’t get caught and so they post some rather shocking things.<\/p>\n
5. Please provide a brief history of how you learned to use digital technologies (personally and professionally).<\/p>\n
*I grew up with technology and as a teacher I have always tried to use it to enhance my teaching practice. \u00a0I initially began with a class blog before moving to a class website. \u00a0When SmartBoards first came out, I took a series of professional development workshops on them but unfortunately I never had a SmartBoard materialize in my classroom. \u00a0\ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n
I use the LCD projector together with my laptop for most of my teaching. \u00a0I also love using educational game-based learning sites such as MangaHigh.com and xtramath.org. \u00a0I discovered Edmodo while conducting research for a LLED course as part of my diploma and I instantly signed up and began using it. \u00a0Whenever I find something that I think would enhance my teaching, I am quick to learn as much as I can about it and implement it in my teaching practice.<\/p>\n
6. How would you rate your digital technological proficiency? 0 = low level of proficiency -> 10 = high level of proficiency? Why did you give yourself this rating?<\/p>\n
*I would put my level of proficiency around a level 8. \u00a0I’m comfortable around computers and new technology and I am also willing to put in the time required to master new technology. \u00a0I’m definitely not an expert in the field but I know enough to use technology on a daily basis and I can see its potential to enhance my teaching.<\/p>\n
7. What do you hope to accomplish in this course?<\/p>\n
*I would love to walk away with a few new ideas for how to incorporate technology into my teaching. \u00a0With every course I’ve taken so far towards my diploma, I’ve walked away with at least 1 great new idea or a usable unit plan that I can immediately implement in my classroom.<\/p>\n
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1. What policies govern your uses of ICT in your school setting? *Our school has an “acceptable use” computer policy that all students and parents are expected to read and sign at the beginning of the school year. \u00a0It states … Continue reading